Newslinks for Friday 18th April 2025

Country continues to react to trans ruling, with Labour in turmoil

“Labour’s stance on women’s rights descended into farce last night as a minister failed to back single-sex spaces and its union paymaster said it will ignore the Supreme Court judgment. A health minister refused four times to say which changing room transgender women should use – despite the unanimous ruling that they are not legally women. And the president of one of Britain’s largest unions – which gives Labour millions of pounds a year – said the historic decision ‘does not change’ its pro-trans policy.” – Daily Mail

• Equalities watchdog inundated with questions on trans women ruling – The Times
• Britain’s biggest bank pledges ‘solidarity’ with trans staff – Daily Telegraph
• NHS warned it must change guidance on single-sex spaces after court ruling – The Guardian
• Kemi Badenoch’s triumphant 3 word blast of woke David Tennant following trans ruling – Daily Express

Comment:

• Will the Supreme Court gender case victors get the apologies they deserve? – Richard Dawkins, The Spectator
• We shouldn’t need a legal definition of “woman” – Sam Bidwell, The Critic
• A long overdue victory for women – Telegraph View
• Olympian fumes ‘heads must roll!’ over ‘betrayal of women’ in trans row – Sharron Davies, Daily Express

US tariffs, a visit from the President and potential trade deal

“Donald Trump will travel to Britain in September, visiting Windsor Castle to spend time with the Royal family. The UK is preparing to host the US president and first lady for a high-profile visit at the end of summer, as the Government seeks to reaffirm transatlantic ties in the wake of his trade war. Sir Keir Starmer and Mr Trump are understood to have discussed the visit during a telephone call, with a plan close to being formally agreed.” – Daily Telegraph

• Trump says baseline tariffs will stay in blow to UK hopes of deal – The Times
• Rachel Reeves set to meet White House officials at US summit next week as hopes of trade deal with Washington grow – Daily Mail
• Rural communities could be destroyed if UK signs US trade deal, says former food tsar – The Guardian
• Farmers fear chlorinated chicken is coming to the UK in US trade deal ‘sell out’  – The i
• UK-US trade deal ‘will be agreed in just THREE WEEKS’ with Trump eager to isolate China in global tariff trade war – The Sun

Comment:

• The European project is dead, yet Starmer remains besotted with it, Sherelle Jacobs, Daily Telegraph
• Whatever Starmer agrees with Trump on trade, the trust is gone – Kitty Donaldson, The i
• Can we stop pretending a trade deal with Trump will be a gamechanger for the UK. It won’t – Martin Kettle, The Guardian

> Yesterday: F Andrew Wolf: If Britain wants a US trade deal it should look at repealing hate speech laws

Badenoch’s GBNews interview and Reform’s plan of attack

“Labour is “too close” to China, Kemi Badenoch has warned. The Tory leader said that the Government lacked a “proper strategy” to deal with Beijing, as ministers continue to seek investment from the country. Last week, the Government seized control of British Steel, prompting debate about the extent of Chinese companies’ involvement in Britain’s critical infrastructure.” – Daily Telegraph

• Kemi Badenoch blasts ‘evil Islamist sectarianism’ as voters warned ‘Allah sees everything’ before casting local election ballots – GBNews
• Kemi Badenoch dismisses suggestions Robert Jenrick threatens her Tory leadership – The Independent
• Reform UK in talks with Liz Truss as it sets sights on Senedd – The Times
• ‘They’re in panic mode!’ Reform slams ‘lying’ Labour after voters receive fake £75k medical bills – GBNews
• Nigel Farage faces defamation lawsuit from ousted Reform MP – The Times
• Robert Jenrick is 7th sexiest man beating Boris and Nigel Farage in new poll – Daily Express

Comment:

• Kemi Badenoch could be facing Nigel Farage-shaped oblivion within days – Jonathan Saxty, Daily Express
• Kemi Badenoch has a year to save her job – Henry Hill, The Critic

> Today: Our survey: Jenrick opens up a sixty-point lead over Badenoch in our latest Shadow Cabinet League Table

Ministers clamber to stop Labour rebellion on disability benefit cuts

“Ministers are scrambling to avoid a damaging rebellion this summer when MPs vote on controversial cuts to disability benefit payments, even offering potential rebels the chance to miss the vote altogether. The government is due to hold a vote in June and dozens of Labour MPs are worried it will hurt their constituents and could cost them their seats. Possible solutions include allowing backbenchers to abstain – a major climbdown from earlier votes, when rebels were disciplined or suspended from the party.” – The Guardian

• Revealed: 1.3 million people with cancer, arthritis and more could lose PIP under Labour’s benefit cuts – The Big Issue

News in brief:

• Why ‘respectable’ Tories don’t like Russell Findlay – Stephen Daisley, The Spectator
• We need a national inquiry into grooming gangs – Katie Lam MP, The Critic
• Starmer must act now to protect NHS from Trump pharma tariffs – Ben Ramanauskas and Sean Phillips, CityAM
• The grooming gang scandal isn’t over Labour is looking the other way – Julie Bindel, Unherd
• North Sea is battleground for Labour v Reform – Patrick Maguire, The Times